Travel Trouble

Couple on first overseas holiday together forced to fly home after just 30 minutes

A couple, who were about to enjoy their first holiday together, were forced to fly home after just 30 minutes because their passports were lost on the plane.

Lewis Munday and Kimberley Floyd, both 27, travelled to Greece from the UK excited for their $2500 getaway.

During the flight, the pair tucked their passports into the magazine pockets of their seats as they watched a movie to pass time on the four-hour flight.

However, when the couple stepped off the plane on the Greek Island of Kos, they realised they had forgotten the important documents in their seats.

A member of the cabin crew then searched the plane, but their passports could not be found.

The disappointed couple were then told they weren’t allowed to enter the country – and within half an hour were sent on a return flight to the UK.

Lewis said: “We were supposed to be sunning it up in Greece but instead ended up at Stansted (Airport).

“There’s no sign of our passports and we’ve had no help, no compensation, nothing. We’ve done everything we could, but no one seems to care.

“It was a nightmare, the biggest you could imagine.”

The couple were moments away from enjoying a week-long holiday to the five-star Atki Hotel, flying with TUI and booked through travel operator First Choice.

Kimberley said: “I realised as soon as we got off the plane, it could only have been two minutes tops."

“They told us we couldn’t get back on the plane and the made us wait by the door to the airport while someone went to look but they said there was nothing there.

“We were waiting for about 30 minutes for a flight back, we had to wait by the door. They tried to move us somewhere else, but I refused.

“There were people watching us like we were criminals.”

The pair have contacted First Choice and TUI but have been unable to locate their passports or receive any compensation.

A TUI UK spokesperson said: “We’re sorry to hear of Mr Mundy and Ms Floyd’s very rare experience on their flight to Greece."

“As a result of not having their passports they were not allowed into the country and were flown back to the UK.

“After searching the aircraft thoroughly, we can confirm their passports were not found.

“We would like to remind customers, as we generally do before they leave the aircraft, to ensure they have all their personal possessions with them and to take responsibility of their personal items at all times.”